Ahlstrom expects 65,000-tonne annual CO2e reduction from new biomethane agreements in Italy

Ahlstrom has entered into multiyear biomethane purchase agreements with two Italian producers, covering seven plants. The contracts, among the largest of their kind in Italy, are set to replace a portion of the company’s natural gas consumption, cutting its Italian Scope 1 emissions by around 44% or 65,000 tonnes of CO2e per year, with no major infrastructure changes required.

Ahlstrom, a Helsinki-headquartered producer of fiber-based specialty materials, has entered into multiyear biomethane purchase agreements with two energy producers, covering seven production plants in Italy. According to a company announcement, the contracts are among the largest industrial biomethane offtake deals signed directly with producers in the country to date.

The biomethane, certified with guarantees of renewable origin, will replace a portion of the fossil natural gas consumed at Ahlstrom’s Italian manufacturing sites. The company estimates the substitution will lower its Scope 1 carbon emissions from those operations by about 44%, equating to roughly 65,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year. Because biomethane can directly replace natural gas in existing combustion systems, no major infrastructure changes are needed, enabling immediate emission cuts.

The agreements underscore the expanding role of biomethane in decarbonizing energy-intensive sectors where electrification remains impractical. Italy’s policy environment and certification frameworks have facilitated such direct partnerships between industrial off-takers and renewable gas suppliers. The long-term contract structure also provides stable revenue streams that support the financing of new biomethane production capacity.

For Ahlstrom, which operates a substantial asset footprint in Italy—approximately 13% of its global asset base and 9% of its workforce—the move advances its operational energy transition strategy and reduces vulnerability to natural gas price volatility and prospective carbon pricing under the EU Emissions Trading System. Company executives stated that the integration of biomethane translates climate commitments into daily operations without compromising reliability or efficiency. The initiative may serve as a reference model for other specialty material manufacturers and hard-to-abate industries seeking cost-effective pathways to cut Scope 1 emissions rapidly.